FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Arboretum Questions:

What is an Arboretum? How does it differ from a Botanical Garden?

They are both organizations in which the goal is to educate and entertain the public using plants. An Arboretum differs from a public garden in that it features only woody plants – trees, shrubs, and some vines, rather than herbaceous plants like perennials and flowers.

Where is the Arboretum located?

The Arboretum includes all publicly accessible property on the West Lafayette academic campus including Horticulture Park. Our office is in the Horticulture Building on Agriculture Mall Drive on the main campus. For any questions regarding the location of a building, please contact the Purdue Visitors Center or check a university map. The facility is located in Purdue Memorial Union in the Great Hall and Room 110 (Main Floor) and is open from 8 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Call 765-494-4636 or email: visitorcenter@purdue.edu.

When is the Arboretum open?

Since the Purdue Arboretum is part of the university campus it is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our office is available by appointment.

Is there an admission fee?

No, the Purdue Arboretum is free to all visitors.

Are there guided tours?

No, currently the Arboretum does not offer any guided tours. We have created The Purdue Arboretum Explorer which is designed to be self-guided so you can learn at your own pace. Purdue University has guided tours available of the West Lafayette campus.

What is Mobile Learning?

Mobile Learning is a location-based platform that allows learning to extend to places beyond the traditional classroom. Through the use of portable computing devices, such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones, anyone can connect to location relevant educational content created by our staff. See our Scan, Link and Learn Page under the Purdue Arboretum Explorer tab to learn more about how this material can be accessed through QR codes.

General Campus Visit Questions:

Where can I park?

Visitor parking is available at various campus locations, but the primary area for visitor parking is the Grant Street Parking Garage, adjacent to the Purdue Memorial Union, 101 North Grant Street. Click Here for More Information.

Where can I eat?

The Purdue campus offers a variety of restaurants and dining options. There are several restaurants located near campus as well as further east on State Road 26.

The Lafayette/West Lafayette community offers you more than 250 dining possibilities, including local flavor, popular chain restaurants, fine dining and fast food. Visit the Visitors Bureau Web site for a comprehensive list of area dining options.

Where can I find more information about studying Horticulture at Purdue?

Purdue offers study opportunities in all aspects of Horticulture toward the baccalaureate degree or graduate degrees as well as for individuals seeking non-degree learning. The Public Horticulture concentration prepares undergraduate students for roles in botanical gardens, arboretums and other horticultural establishments in the public sector. Professional careers include plant collection management, education, public garden administration, plant propagation, botanical illustration, and horticultural writing. You can find more details about all Purdue Horticulture programs at : https://ag.purdue.edu/hla/Pages/default.aspx.